Totally Spies Porn Story: Shooting Star Chapter 12

Sam suddenly found herself all alone in the
infirmary. Alone aside from an unresponsive Jacob. It took her a moment
to realize Alex and Clover had vanished abruptly and it took a little
longer to remember why.

I suppose that means theyve found the bomb, she thought. Alex and Clover should be back soon, and then thisll all be over.

Sam
walked around to one side of the bed. Jacobs gun and his shoulder
harness lay on the bedside table. His cleaned and pressed clothes hung
in the closet facing the bed. She pulled the sheets up on him, knowing
he would get cold easily with a fever. Just a few more hours and we can
all go back to normal, she thought. Dealing with thieves is one thing.
You can always catch them and return the stolen goods to their owners.
What Ive seen this past week is way beyond any of that. The bomb was
just the first part of Stephens plan. After that, events would be set
in motion that no one can reverse. Is this the sort of thing that Jacob
deals in every day? Not only looking out for himself and those
immediately affected, but also keeping an eye on the extreme-long-term
effects of his actions? I just dont see how one could manage doing
that on a daily basis without going insane, or at least aging
prematurely. I wonder where hell end up after this crisis is resolved?
Thats probably something 99.9% of America wont ever find out.

She
stretched her back and arms, but not enough to aggravate the wound. She
decided there was nothing more she could do here and left the
infirmary. She found herself wandering around the floor until she found
a waiting room with a good view of the city. The buildings around and
below the WOOHP headquarters appeared as black shapes with holes cut in
them to allow light to escape. Bright points of light moved up and down
the serpentine roads, going about their business as usual. Sam
remembered hearing about a big Lakers game tonight, which meant there
would be lots of people in town. Lots of people in a town threatened by
a nuclear attack without a care in the world, she thought. She envied
those people. She wished she could just be home watching a movie with
her family instead of worrying about the future of the entire world,
unable to help. She wondered what kind of excuse she would come up with
if her mom ever saw her wound. It was on her front and backside, so it
would be difficult to hide. She decided to leave that for later.

Im
sorry that you couldnt go on this mission, but I had no choice.
Between your injury and the importance of this mission, I simply
couldnt risk anything.

I know, I know. Im just upset that the worlds in trouble and I cant do anything about it.

Youve done all you can, Sam. Sometimes we just have to sit back and trust others to get the job done when we cant.

This
is the same reason why we stayed on this mission. None of us could
stand sitting back and watching and waiting and doing nothing while the
worlds in trouble.

Well, just remember that your friends will be back soon enough, and then you can all finally go home.

Does that mean Im still confined to the building?

Im
afraid so, Sam. Theres too many FBI agents watching the building right
now, and I cant risk you going out alone in your condition.

Sam
felt the building shake slightly, and then a pair of WOOHP zip craft
eased away from the building and sped off into the night.

So what do we do now?

For now its just wait and see.

We wait and see if they get the bomb?

No,
we wait for them to return with the bomb and then decide where to go
from there. Remember, we are still on the FBIs bad side.

Point. She stared at the city for a little while. Will Jacob be okay?

Hes
sick as a dog, but hell be fine. As long as he gets plenty of rest, he
should be back on his feet before the week is over.

Then hell be shipped off to God-knows-where is what you wont say, Sam didnt add.

Well
Sam, I have a lot of things I need to take care of. Please dont wander
too far. Jerry strolled out of the room and down the hall.

Sam
once again found herself alone in the big WOOHP building. She wondered
how Alex and Clover were doing without her. It wasnt the first time
theyd gone without her, and theyve always been fine. Theres no need
to worry about those two, she thought. They can take care of
themselves. Besides, theyve got a dozen WOOHP agents backing them up.
No need to worry at all.

Then why am I so worried?

Try
as she might, she couldnt shake the ominous sensations that crept
through her stomach. Something wasnt right. Only this time, it wasnt
her allies keeping things from her. This time, she felt as if something
was horribly wrong with the current situation. It just felt too easy.

Her Compowder rang and she answered it.

Sam here, whats up?

Is
this Samantha? said an eerily familiar voice. There was no video on
the signal, so the screen showed only static, but that didnt stop
Sams blood from freezing. She cradled the Compowder close and went to
a corner of the room, making sure nobody was looking.

What do you want?

To speak to my nephew. Where is he?

He cant talk right now, so youll just have to tell me whatever you wanted to say.

Is that so? Too bad, you wont understand a word of what I was going to say.

What?

Before
Sam could stop him, Stephen began spouting off a string of Russian. All
Sam could do was hit the record button and hope to get it translated
somehow. When Stephen finished his message, Sam said, How did you
contact me?

It wasnt easy. Your encryption software is outstanding, but not impervious.

Congratulations.

Why thank you. Goodbye, Samantha.

Wait! Dont hang up!

If youre trying to stall me so I can be traced, it wont work.

Youre not being traced. No one knows youve called me. Yet.

Is there something you wanted to say, then?

Sam paused. She wouldnt get much of a chance to say anything, so whatever she said next had to be important.

Where are you?

Im afraid youll have to find someone who speaks Russian to help you with that.

Shoot, try again. How long have you been planning this?

Since I discovered Jacob was hunting me.

Because youd have to draw him out, right?

Exactly.

So why hold a whole city at gunpoint just to get one man?

I already told you why. This isnt just about him and me; its about performing the ultimate service for my country.

Hmph, I hope you like being captured, because-

Youve dispatched a pair of jets to come get me, right?

What…how did you know?

If I had some binoculars, I could watch the whole thing going down right now.

There
was a pause. I want to see my wayward nephew one last time before I
go. Please do an old man a favor and grant his last request. The line
went dead, leaving Sam alone with a possible clue she couldnt
understand.

Great, now what? She wasnt quite sure what to do
with the message. On top of that, Alex and Clover were going the wrong
way. The easiest thing would be to take it to Jerry, but she was
worried what might happen. What would Stephen do if he spotted a WHOOP
jet heading right for him? And that was only if he revealed his
location in the message. What if the message was some riddle only Jacob
could understand? Even families that hate one another have inside
jokes. Not like Jacobs in any condition to help anyway. So where does
that leave me? Stuck between a rock and a hard place, thats where.

A nurse entered the room. Excuse me, Jacobs awake now, if you want to see him.

Yeah, I will. Thanks.

Hes
still very weak, so dont get him excited or anything. She led the way
down the hall past the infirmary and to the recovery ward. They stopped
at a door with a pair of WOOHP agents standing outside.

What are they for? Sam whispered.

To
make sure your friend doesnt try anything stupid, or at least thats
what Ive been told. The nurse showed her ID to the guards and they
let her and Sam in. Ill stay outside for now. Just call if you need
anything. The nurse left the room.

Sam walked over to the bed
and sat down in the chair beside it. Jacobs eyes were half-open, and
he didnt bother moving an inch. Once again, his gun lay on the bedside
table.

He looked at her and said hey. His voice was weak and his skin still pale.

Hi, hows it going?

Not too bad. The beds comfy.

Dont lie to me. Youre sick as hell.

This is nothing. Just a fever.

A fever that made you collapse right in front of me.

Like I said, a fever.

Sam could tell that his strength was already fading fast. He wouldnt be conscious for long.

Listen, she lowered her voice to make sure the guards couldnt hear, Stephen contacted me a few minutes ago.

Jacobs eyes widened. Go on.

He had a message for you, but its in Russian. I cant understand it.

Have you told anyone else?

No.

Did you record it?

Yeah,
most of it. She opened her Compowder and played the message just loud
enough for them to hear it. When the message finished, Jacob asked her
to play it again. When that was done, he was silent. It was a couple of
minutes before Sam realized hed fallen asleep.

Hey, dont go
to sleep on me yet! She nudged him, but got no response. Crud, not
good. She shook him harder, but still got no response. She looked
around the room in desperation, but it was hopeless. She stood up and
paced around the room. Without Jacob to translate, shed have to take
it to Jerry, and there was no telling what would happen then. If Jacob
didnt show up wherever Stephen was, he might set the bomb off. She
paused next to the monitor, still at a loss for ideas. Then a label on
the I.V. bag caught her eye.

Propofol? The name had a familiar
ring to it, and she tried to remember why. After a few minutes, she
remembered. Shed heard the name in her biology class, and it was a
general anesthetic, the sort doctors use to put patients under in an
operating room.

I dont believe this! Theyve drugged him up!
Depending on the concentration, Jacob could be out for hours as long as
the fluid kept dripping into his system. Sam turned the drip monitor
off and disconnected the bag from the catheter.

So this is how theyre keeping him out of trouble; by keeping him out cold.

So now what?

She
was about to make up her mind to see Jerry when Jacob muttered
something. Sam went back to the bed and asked, What did you say?
Cmon, say it again!

Solomon. Jacob was totally unconscious now.

Solomon? What kind of help is that?

The
name is familiar, but from what? She knew about King Solomon from the
Bible, but didnt see how this could be related to the situation. She
remembered hearing what sounded like wind over Stephens phone, so she
knew he was outside, probably away from any traffic or busy places. She
walked over the window and looked out the blinds. Most of the buildings
were lit up, as it was still fairly early in the evening. Once
exception lay off to the right. Aside from a few security lights, it
was almost completely darkened. It was still under construction, as
told by the scaffolding on the roof. Sam remembered hearing something
major about that building a few weeks ago. Then the name struck like a
lightning bolt.

The Solomon Carlita Estates a brand-new
high-rise apartment building. It wasnt finished yet, even though the
first tenants were supposed to be moving in next week. Sam pulled the
list from her pocket and checked it. Sure enough, it was there.

Is this it? she said to no one. Is this the real deal, or am I wrong?

Sam
found herself facing another decision. Was this the right place? If so,
what should I do? What if its not? Then what? Whyd they have to drug
Jacob? When will Alex and Clover get back? Should I tell Jerry what I
know? Or…should I do this myself?

The thought nailed her feet
to the floor. Shed seen firsthand what kind of fighter Stephen was.
She wondered if she could take him on single-handedly. She wondered
what she would do once she got there. How would she take on Stephen,
all by herself? Here eyes fell on Jacobs gun.

If I get the first shot off, then I win. But could she do it? Could she take a mans life, even if she had no other choice?

I dont have to kill him, just incapacitate. But will he let me is the question.

She
still wasnt sure if this was the right thing to do. Too many things
she didnt know. Sam knew she was a good fighter, but had no idea how
she stacked up to Stephens skill. She stared at Jacobs gun, and she
remembered something he said at the apartment:

…you and me
and Alex and Clover and Jerry and everyone else involved in this
operation are going to do everything in our power to stop Stephen.

Hes right, she thought. If its within my power to go fight Stephen, then thats what Im going to do.

Sam
picked the gun and harness off the table. She took off her jacket and
put the harness on, adjusting the straps for her smaller frame. She
holstered the gun and put her jacket back on. She looked herself in a
mirror, noticing the slight bulge under the jacket. It would have to
do. She stood beside the bed again.

Jacob, you told me that we
have to do whatever is within our power to stop this guy. Well, its
fallen within my power to go face Stephen by myself. I dont really see
any other way around it, and I dont know what will happen when I get
there. All I can say is, Ive enjoyed working with you. Its probably a
far-fetched hope, but, see you later.

She nodded to the guards
as she left the room and down the hall towards the elevator. While she
waited for the elevator to come, she remembered that the FBI had the
building surrounded. She needed a way out if she was going to go see
Stephen. She took the elevator to the floor where the cafeteria was,
not terribly sure what she was doing. Staff and off-duty agents
occupied the cafeteria. She was about to go in when she spotted
Jennifer heading for the elevator. Sam caught up to her and got her
attention.

Oh, hey Sam. Whats up?

Nothing, really. Say, if someone needed to leave the building like, right now, how would they go about doing it?

Jennifer
noticed the bulge in Sams jacket and figured out what she was doing
immediately. Hmm, it wont be easy. The FBIs keeping a close watch on
this place. Youd have to sneak out without them seeing you. Jennifer
focused for a minute. Hmm, if I recall correctly, this building and
the one next to it used to be owned by the same company before WOOHP
bought it. There was a service tunnel which ran between the two, but
its supposedly been sealed off.

Sams countenance fell.

However,
I also heard the tunnel was merely closed off, and not very well at
that. Supposedly the folks next door still use it for storage.

Is there any place where the tunnel comes out on the surface?

Yeah, theres one I know of about a block away from the building, which is farther away than the FBI is watching this place.

Thanks, Jenn. I owe you one.

Dont mention it. Oh, by the way, Sam.

Yeah?

Pull the trigger straight back in one smooth motion.

What?

Dont jerk it back like most rookies do. Thatll throw your aim off.

Oh, thanks.

Jennifer
winked at Sam and stepped into the elevator, and then she was gone. Sam
took another elevator down to the basement level. A series of turns
took her into a less trafficked area of the basement, where storage and
utility rooms commanded most of the available space. Sam followed a
corridor that ended at a door marked NO ENTRY. EXECUTIVE AUTHORIZATION
REQUIRED. Sam stepped over the chains barring the way and examined the
door. It was made of NASA-grade steel, and an electronic lock held it
shut. Sam opened her Compowder and plugged it into the lock. The
hacking program activated and had the lock opened within a few seconds.

Nobodys been here for years, probably.

She
pulled the door open and looked inside. The smell of dust and plywood
met her nose, and she could see why once her eyes adjusted to the
darkness. The tunnel was packed with crates and covered things sitting
on palates. Most of them had acquired a thick layer of dust. Sam
supposed this was where they put things they didnt need and couldnt
get rid of. She climbed over the first stack of crates in front of her
and then dropped down to the floor. A narrow lane led between the
crates and equipment. She followed it for many paces before a side lane
appeared. She looked down the lane and saw a ladder leading up to a
hatch in the roof of the tunnel. She climbed the ladder, opened the
hatch, and continued up to the street level.

The opening led to
an alley a good distance from the WOOHP building. Sam climbed out and
looked around. Everything was still wet from the rain. Black FBI
vehicles were everywhere on the side facing the WOOHP building, but it
was clear on the other end of the alley. She cautiously backed away
from the FBI agents and walked to the street on the other end.

Once
there, she hailed a taxi and told the driver to take her to the Solomon
Carlita Estates. It took several minutes, but eventually they reached
the building and Sam paid the fare and stepped out. The cab took off,
leaving her staring up at the towering edifice. Knowing who and what
were up there sent a chill down her spine, and caused the building to
appear more threatening than inviting. She took a deep breath and
walked into the lobby.

Sams farewell had not fallen on deaf
ears. Jacob was still conscious, but just barely. Her words entered his
ears and slowly worked their way in, percolating through his
anesthesia-addled mind, slowly but surely, until they finally reached
his consciousness.

Sam, you idiot! Youre going to get yourself killed!

Jacob
bolted awake and sat up with a start, immediately regretting doing so.
His head swam, and he kept it under control as best he could. He
noticed that his catheter was not connected to the I.V. bag, and when
he saw the label, he realized why.

Great, now I owe her one.

He pulled the catheter from his arm and stepped out of bed. He still felt weak, from the fever or the drugs he couldnt tell.

Not good, Im not up to full strength. Have to make do with what I have.

He started for the door, and then it opened by itself. A male nurse and the two guards stood in the way.

Im
sorry, Mr. Jacob, but we cant let you leave. Youre still sick and
need rest. His eyes belied the fact that he knew what was in the I.V.
solution.

Stand aside, this concerns the fate of the operation and possibly the rest of the world.

I cant do that.

Jacob looked from the nurse to the agents, who returned only stone-cold glares.

Jacob sighed. Sorry about this.

About what?

Jacob
kicked the nurse in the shin, and delivered a knockout blow to all
three of them within two seconds. They collapsed at his feet. Sorry
guys, but a friend of mine is in danger, and Im not about to let her
die because of me.

He went to his closet and found his clothes
cleaned and hung up. He exchanged his hospital gown for the clothes,
found his gun missing, and guessed where it was. He checked the hallway
before making haste to the elevator.

Sam entered the empty
lobby. The lights were on and her footsteps echoed loudly on the
polished marble. She walked past the reception desk, past the lounge
chairs, and past the security checkpoint, which was inactive. She
followed the hallway past the first set of elevators to a second set
that went all the way up to the roof. She pressed the call button and
tied her hair back while she waited for the elevator to descend. She
stepped in when it arrived and pressed the button for the roof. The
elevator accelerated quickly and smoothly. Sam drew the pistol and
checked the magazine. Full. She replaced it and jacked the bolt to
chamber the first round.

She brushed her hair out of the way and
pointed the gun at the floor, holding it with both hands. It felt just
a little too large for her hands, but compensated by being light as a
feather. She looked up and saw her reflection in the stainless steel
door. Standing there with the gun in her hands, her eyes focused and
her body tensed for action, she thought she looked a little like Jacob.

Guess were not too different, you and I.

The elevator passed the 15th floor and continued to speed towards the roof.

Alex
and Clover huddled in the cramped cabin of their zip craft. Most of the
agents had stayed behind to clean up, but they and a few others were
sent back to WOOHP HQ. Clovers hand and wrist were tightly wrapped up,
and Alex was leaning forward to see out the cockpit. Clover was
muttering about how badly a cast was going to clash with all her
outfits. Well, except for a couple that would sort of hide it.

Come on, cant we go any faster? Alex asked the pilot.

Fraid not. This is as fast as we can go in stealth mode. Any faster and people will be able to hear the engines.

Well, just hurry, okay?

Im going as fast as I can. Just sit tight.

Alex
leaned back in her seat. It wasnt often they were led on a wild goose
chase, and this time theyd been duped big time. The only thing they
could do now was get back to WOOHP as fast as possible and try to
figure out where to go from there.

Clover turned to Alex. I hate wild goose chases, dont you?

No kidding. I wonder what were gonna do now?

Well, Im going to have to get a cast, for starters.

Ooh! Let me be the first to sign it!

Of
course! How could I not let by best friends be the first ones? Her
optimism surprised Alex. She figured being put out of action in the
middle of a crisis would have been plenty enough to bum her out. Alexs
Compowder chimed and she answered it. Jerry was on the other end.

Whats up, Jerr?

Im afraid I have some bad news. Sam is missing.

What?

You heard me, Sam has disappeared and were not sure where she went.

Clover scooted closer to look at the screen. When did she vanish?

About 15 minutes ago. That was the last time anyone saw her.

Weve got to find her! She shouldnt go anywhere at a time like this!

Im afraid it gets worse. Jacob is also missing. His guards were unconscious and he was not in his room.

Do you think he knocked them out? asked Alex.

Most likely, yes.

How could he even move? He was sick as could be.

Hes very strong, Alex. It takes a lot to take the fight out of him.

What about Sam? asked Clover. Could she have done it?

Unlikely. Jacob vanished well after Sam did, and the guards hadnt been out for long.

Why do you think they left?

My hunch is that Stephen contacted them somehow and theyve gone off to see him.

Where did they go? Have you tried Sams Compowder?

We
dont know, and Sam either left it somewhere or isnt answering.
Theres something else you should know. Someone had given Jacob an I.V.
solution with an anesthetic mixed in.

Someone was trying to keep him out of it? burst Alex.

Apparently.

How did he wake up, then?

One
of the nurses said Sam went to visit him shortly before she
disappeared. She might have disconnected the drugs, which allowed him
to wake up and escape.

What should we do? asked Clover.

Get back here on the double. We have to figure out where they went, and Clover needs attention. Jerrys signal ended.

The
zip craft came up on the WOOHP building. Alex could make out figures
waiting for them on the rooftop. The ship circled the building a couple
of times to throw off its speed and then descended to the helipad.
Alexs mind was still awash with questions as the door opened and
agents helped them down. Why on earth did Sam take off like that? Is
Jacob heading to the same place? Do they know where Stephen is? Whatll
happen when they get there?

The elevator slowed down as it
approached the roof. It seemed to take forever to slow down and finally
bring itself to a halt. The indicator read R, and Sam stood to one
side with the gun pointed at the ceiling. The doors parted and Sam
peeked around the corner. The roof was fairly well-lit, but she
couldnt see anyone. She stepped out around the corner with the gun
ready. She quickly looked each way, and still saw no one. Like the rest
of the city, the roof was still wet. The lights up here and from the
city below had an eerie orange tint, bathing the rooftop in strange
light. The lights from the city reflected off the low-flying clouds,
the reddish afterglow adding to the already ominous atmosphere.

She
walked forward, gun extended, her senses clawing at the air for
anything unusual. Her ears picked up the faintest sound of metal
scraping against metal. It came from just behind and to the left,
almost right above where she was standing. She whirled around to the
left and raised her gun to where the sound came from. The sights found
Stephen standing above on the scaffolding, his gun drawn and pointing
right at her.

It seemed to take forever for the gun to finally
center on Stephen, and once it did she pulled the trigger right as
Stephen did. Stephens bullet grazed her side just above her waist and
she felt her wound tear open. She pulled the trigger just slightly too
hard and the gun fired to the right of where she was aiming. Stephen
stepped off the scaffolding as she fired and her bullet tore a hole in
his coat sleeve and released the faintest spray of blood. He descended
on her like a ghost, his coat billowing behind him and his arms
outstretched and aiming for her throat.

Sam sidestepped under
his arms and knocked his gun out of his hand, and then stepped away
from him and swung her gun around towards his head. Stephen blocked her
arm and Sam pushed with all her might against him. She pulled the
trigger and missed. She pushed harder and fired again, this time almost
hitting him. She pushed again with all her might and fired the gun at
his neck. Stephen twisted his head out of the way and the bullet grazed
his neck, sending a small spray of blood into the air. They broke the
grapple and Sam swung the gun around again. This time Stephen kicked it
out of her hand and they both stepped away from each other.

Where is Jacob?

He couldnt make it.

I dont believe you.

Im all that youve got right now, old man.

All the powers of Hell couldnt stop him on this night.

Why is that?

If you understood that, youd be so many levels above what you are it would boggle your mind.

Ive come here to stop you, or die trying. Thats all.

Youre really ready to die to protect your loved ones?

Yes.

Its a shame that we must be enemies.

Sam
stepped in and closed the gap with a kick aimed for his head. Stephen
blocked and countered with one of his own. Sam parried and stepped in
close, launching a flurry of punches. Stephen blocked the first few and
then missed one to the stomach, and Sam followed that with a right hook
to the jaw and then an elbow to his gut. She jumped up and went for a
roundhouse kick to his head, but Stephen dodged and countered with a
couple of jabs. Sam dodged and parried and went for a punch of her own.
Stephen parried it to the outside with his right hand and then brought
his fist crashing down across Sams face. He followed it with a left
jab to her stomach and then sent her sprawling on the ground with his
foot.

Sam quickly got to her feet. The adrenaline coursing
through her veins dulled the pain and put a fire in her limbs. She
clenched her fists tight and charged at Stephen. She leaped at him with
a kick and he blocked it and stepped behind her. Stephen slugged her in
the kidney and backhanded her across the head. Sam sidestepped to avoid
his next punch and kicked him hard in the knee. The blow stunned him
momentarily and took him off-balance. She punched him across the face
and delivered a series of lightning fast punches to the face and
stomach, following them with one heel across his face and another in
his stomach. Sam tried for another kick, but Stephen recovered and
grabbed it. He tried to throw her but Sam used the force to launch
herself into a backwards somersault and landed on her feet.

Youre not half-bad, child. I see great potential in you, if youre willing to strive for it.

The only thing I see in you is a monster.

Fair enough. Terrorists arent supposed to be nice.

Stephen
took the initiative this time, quickly walking in and leading off with
a powerful swing. Sam ducked it and then blocked his other arm and
tried to step behind him. Stephen saw this and backed into her. He
drove his elbow into her stomach and then backhanded her in the face.
He swiveled around and smashed his left fist into her stomach, hit her
in the face with his right, and then backhanded her again. Sam quickly
stepped back, but Stephen followed her movements and started throwing
more attacks at her. She managed to parry one of his kicks and throw
him slightly off-balance. She stepped in hard and fast and buried her
right fist in his stomach and followed with a left uppercut. Stephen
stumbled back and Sam followed him with a jump kick right in the center
of his chest, throwing him back and on the ground for once.

Sam
was breathing hard now. She was sore all over, and a wet spot had
formed where her wound was. Every time Stephen hit that area it sent
shockwaves through her body, and the repeated blows to the head werent
doing much good for her equilibrium. Stephen started to get back to his
feet. He was barely breathing harder than normal.

Hes just bigger, stronger, and tougher than me. Thats the problem. No matter, he will go down.

Im enjoying this, Samantha, I really am. You fight with skill and determination, traits I admire in a soldier.

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and settled into a fighting stance. Why dont you just go back to Hell?

I will, but not just yet.

They
attacked each other simultaneously. This time they had no regards for
their own safety. No dancing around in and out of range and fancy
footwork. They attacked each other with wild abandon; each one taking
as many blows as they delivered. Sam was faster and more graceful, but
Stephen was more experienced and far stronger. Sam grabbed his sleeves
and drove her knee into his stomach, and then again. She went for a
third strike, but Stephen broke her hold, hit her twice in the stomach,
twice across the face, and kicked her in the leg, face and then
launched her with a third kick to the stomach.

Sam landed hard
on the concrete and rolled back up onto her feet. Her body ached and
her breath was ragged. She wasnt sure how much longer she could keep
this pace up.

Stephen approached. Dont tell me youre spent already.

No, not by a long shot.

Stephen
attacked her with his feet and Sam stepped inside his kicking range.
She dodged a set of fast punches and then threw a few of her own – two
across the face and two more in the stomach. Stephen dodged it and
pinned her arm against his side. He delivered a vicious palm strike to
her chest, and Sam thought something cracked. He pulled back for
another, but Sam placed one foot on his chest and then kicked off his
face with the other, causing him to release her arm and stumble
backwards. She ran at him and kicked him square in the jaw, then again,
and again, and again. Stephen started to recover from the stunning
blow, so instead of a fifth kick she jumped at him, planted one foot on
his chest, and kicked off with all her might, sending him flying
towards the tool shed.

Stephen slammed into the flimsy door,
crashed right through it and hit something heavy just inside. It was a
few seconds before he managed to pull himself out of the shed. He was
breathing heavier now, but appeared nowhere near as tired as Sam.

A
fine hit, child. Ive underestimated you. He stepped away from the
shed and Sams eyes widened when she saw what was inside. Stephen
noticed her reaction and turned around. Yes, what youre thinking is
correct. This is what were fighting over, is it not?

Just a few feet behind Stephen and less than fifteen from Sam sat the nuclear weapon.

The devices lights were on and some of them were blinking. Sam wasnt sure what to make of that.

Dont worry, its not on a timer or anything. Said Stephen. It is armed, however, and Im holding the detonator.

Hand it over, Stephen. Sam pleaded. For the love of God, just dont do this.

Thats impossible, Im afraid. Ill never allow you to take me alive. Youll just have to take it from my corpse.

Please, Stephen. Why do all those people have to die? Why does anyone have to die?

That
is the world Ive lived in since I was your age. That world has no use
for me any longer, so I just have to leave it. That is how things have
always worked.

I dont understand. We dont have to do things this way!

I
have fallen from my place in this world. It has no use for me and I
have no use for it. The only thing I can do is the one thing I
dedicated my life to doing; protecting my country from her enemies.

Sams breath was calming down. A regular shooting star, arent you?

Come again?

Youve fallen from your high place, and now the only thing you can do is burn up everything you touch.

And
thats the simple truth. Stephen looked out across the city. My time
here is ending, Samantha. Death is coming for me. Its time we ended
this.

Stephen charged her with all his fury. Sam could barely
keep up with his assault, and took several hits from her foe. Sam
finally got a chance to leap away from his relentless attack She
counterattacked several times, Stephen parrying and blocking each
attack. Sam barely avoided his counters and went for her own
counterattack. She threw a punch to his face, and Stephen dodged out of
the way, holding his left arm on the opposite side of hers. Sam saw his
right arm coming forward from his hip and everything happened in slow
motion. His arms collided on hers like a pair of scissors. The bones in
her right arm buckled under the stress, and finally gave way with a
sickening crack!

Her arm went limp and an intense burning
sensation shot through her arm, causing her to cry out in pain. Stephen
stood back and watched her hold her arm and lean over, her face twisted
by pain and injury. Her hair was streaked with sweat, and her shoulders
heaved as her lungs struggled for oxygen. After what felt like forever,
Sam stood back up straight and forced the pain into a corner of her
mind. She set one foot back and held her left hand up in defense,
letting her right arm hang limp and useless.

Still willing to fight?

Sam said nothing, letting her intensely focused eyes do the talking.

I
see. This place is so important to you that youre still willing to
fight even though youre outclassed and badly injured. He snickered.
It truly is a terrible shame that we have to be on opposite sides of
this conflict.

Shut up and fight me.

Stephen
approached her. She threw out her good hand, but Stephen simply caught
her arm with his left hand and clamped his right hand around her
throat. A malicious smile crossed his face as he started to squeeze her
neck and hold her arm in an iron grip. Sam couldnt breath. Her limbs
began to go numb, and her vision was fading fast. She reached with her
left hand, for what she didnt know. Everything started to become
distant. She could see herself at Stephens mercy, atop the building
with the bomb on it. Everything was so clear now. She was going to die,
and Stephen would kill all her friends in one act. Yet she wasnt
afraid. She was totally at peace. Shed done everything she could, and
shed failed. There was nothing else left to do but die. It all seemed
so simple to her.

Suddenly Stephen changed his mind. He relaxed
his grip on her throat, allowing air to rush into her lungs and blood
to return to her brain. Sams lungs took in air in ragged gasps, her
eyes wide from the shock of having been to the brink of death and back.
Just as she was starting to calm down from her journey to the edge, he
smashed his foot into her left leg. Sam felt her leg bend where it
wasnt supposed to, and she could no longer stand up. Stephen released
her and tossed her against a scaffold. She collapsed to the floor, her
entire body screaming in pain from head to toe. Her mind was completely
clouded. She couldnt think straight for more than a few seconds. She
did know one thing: this was the end.

She heard the bolt of a
pistol slide into place and looked up, right down the sights of
Stephens gun and into his cold, emotionless face.

I was impressed by your courage. You deserve a soldiers death.

Sams
own problems faded away. Every fiber of her being wanted to reach out
and strangle this man, but she couldnt even stand up. The best she
could manage was remaining defiant and brave.

Stephen tightened his grip. Any last words?

Sam stared him straight in the eyes. None youd like to hear.

Pity.
He straightened his arm and slowly began squeezing the trigger. Sams
gaze never left his eyes. She wasnt going out as a cowering captive.
The whole world stood still, like it was waiting for a great event to
unfold the likes of which it had never seen before.

Stephens
finger pulled the trigger back farther and farther. The hammers
release mechanism was almost ready to spring. Just another millimeter.

And then the elevator rang.

Stephen
released the trigger and pointed his gun at the elevator doors. The
doors parted and Jacob casually stepped out with his hands in his
pockets. He stopped when he saw the gun pointed at him.

Whats this? Have you sunk to pulling a gun on unarmed men now?

You.

You yourself, uncle.

I knew you would come.

I wasnt about to disappoint. I wouldnt miss this for the world.

Stephen put his gun away. Are you ready to hunt the last wolf, Jacob?

Ive always been hunting you, the one that got away.

I thought WOLFHOUND was done for.

WOLFHOUNDS mission wont be complete until weve captured every last wolf, and youre the last one.

Are you ready to finish this?

Yeah.
Its time I finished what I started He took several steps away from
the elevator, never taking his eyes off Stephen. Sam, whatever
happens, stay out of this. This is strictly between him and me. Nice
shiner, by the way.

Sam touched her left eye. The flesh around it was swollen and tender.

Jacob
stopped several paces from Stephen. Just one question, before you and
I are just professionals again, what was it all for?

A dream. A dream of a Russia free from corruption; powerful, respected, and unified. Thats what this is all for.

Dreams are an interpretation of reality, not its reflection.

Yet
everyone has them, something to strive for that is beyond what they are
actually capable of. Its part of what makes us human. What are your
dreams? Even you have at least one.

I dream of a world where people like you and I are no longer necessary.

Even more far-fetched than mine.

Like you said, its something to strive for.

The
two of them circled each other. Their eyes tried to bore into one
anothers mind, each one trying to decide what the others first move
would be. Jacob took the initiative and flew at Stephen with terrifying
speed. They clashed with unbridled fury, fists flying and feet moving
with poetic speed and strength.

All Sam could do was sit and
watch. The speed of their fight was mesmerizing, both of them
delivering and defending blows with unreal precision and skill. Almost
every blow looked like it could knock a full-grown man out, and they
were regularly taking hits from such attacks. She started to notice
distinctions in their fighting styles. Jacob was extremely fast and
used his speed to add to the force of his attacks and avoid Stephens.
He was light on his feet and very loose; letting the fight move in
whatever direction it wanted. Stephen, on the other hand, was much more
reserved. He kept close to himself and drew Jacob in close where he
could punish him with his fast fists, making more use of grappling
attacks than Jacob did. For all their differences, the two of them were
evenly matched.

Jacob threw a pair of punches and Stephen
swatted them away and countered with a pair of his own across Jacobs
face. Jacob blocked a third punch and then stepped in with a series of
rapid blows to Stephens face. Stephen swung at him and Jacob ducked,
hit him in the stomach, and then rose up and delivered an uppercut and
followed through with a reverse roundhouse kick that sent Stephen
staggering backwards. Jacob wasted no time and chased after him and
swung at his head. Stephen parried under the punch and hit Jacob in the
stomach and followed with another blow to the head with his other hand
and then again to the stomach. He kicked him in the face with one foot
and then sent Jacob to the ground with a roundhouse to the head. Jacob
fell down but quickly recovered and got to his feet, sliding a bit on
the wet concrete.

Why do you fight, Jacob?

I fight to protect people from maniacs like you.

They
clashed again with the same terrifying force. Stephen had Jacob mostly
on defense, which proved to not be such a weakness for him. They
delivered and defended many attacks, their fury rising with each one.
Jacob misjudged one of Stephens movements and took a horrific blow to
the stomach. It knocked the wind out of him and caused him to double
over. Stephen rose up with his fists clenched together, intending to
break Jacobs back. Jacob recovered and ducked out of the way and put a
vicious kick into Stephens side. Stephen started to stumble away, but
Jacob caught him by the sleeve and yanked him back. Jacobs fist met
Stephens face and Jacob stooped low and rammed into Stephen with his
elbow. But before he could stand up, Stephen smashed his knee into
Jacobs head and immediately connected with a series of punches. Before
Jacob could recover from that attack, Stephen grabbed Jacobs head with
one hand and smashed his head with a palm strike from his other hand.

The
blow looked in all seriousness to Sam like it should have crushed
Jacobs skull, but it didnt. Jacobs eyes rolled back in his head and
he started to fall. He forced himself back into consciousness and
stopped the fall. He held his head in his hands and tears were
streaming from his eyes. His senses were so scrambled he didnt notice
Stephen walking up to him. Stephen brought his arm back and prepared to
bring it across Jacobs head. Jacob recovered his senses just in time
to see Stephens blow coming. He flexed his hand back, curled his
fingers together, and threw every ounce of his strength into his right
arm. The heel of his palm intercepted Stephens face with enough force
the throw him back almost off his feet. Jacob followed him and leaped
into the air with a swift kick to the face and then punched Stephen
square in the center of his body, launching him onto the concrete.

Stephen
began rising to his feet with difficulty. Both fighters were battered
and tired, but in no condition to stop. Sam noticed something
disturbing; Jacob was in worse shape than Stephen.

Oh no. Hes still weak from the fever!

Jacob
still looked pale and he was breathing harder than Stephen was. Stephen
got back to his feet and Jacob immediately attacked him. Stephen ducked
the initial punch and blocked the follow-up attack. Jacob kicked at him
and Stephen blocked it and slipped around behind Jacob. He locked one
of his arms in Jacobs and started hitting Jacob in the back of the
head with the elbow of his free arm. Jacob wrestled himself free and
turned to swing at Stephen. He dodged and struck Jacob in the stomach
and face. He then grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him down onto
his knee, then elbowed him in the side of his head to knock him down.
Jacob started to get back up, but Stephen walked over and kicked him in
the stomach hard enough to make Jacob roll over. Stephen followed him
and kicked him a few more times before Jacob caught his foot and tossed
him off-balance.

Stephen stumbled back several steps, giving
Jacob enough time to stand back up and charge him. Jacob swung at him
again and Stephen ducked like last time. This time Jacob allowed
Stephen to counterattack. Jacob blocked his attack and grabbed his arm.
Jacob used his free hand to strike Stephen in the kidneys and let go
when Stephen swung at him, ducking the attack and striking hard and
fast with a series of furious punches. Stephen backed off and Jacob
tried to connect with a kick. Stephen caught it, but Jacob didnt allow
Stephen to throw him. He jumped off his other foot and brought it
across Stephens face, causing him to let go. Jacob took his newly
freed foot across Stephens face and then hit him with three more kicks
in rapid succession. The last kick knocked Stephen down and Jacob
backed off.

His was breathing heavily and looking more exhausted
than ever. Sam looked over at Stephen. He was kneeling and shaking his
head to clear it. He slowly stood back up. He was breathing heavily,
but not half as badly as Jacob was. Sam realized Jacob wasnt going to
last long at this rate. She looked around for something that would
help. She knew that if Jacob lost, Stephen would detonate the bomb, no
question about that. She looked to her left and spotted Jacobs gun
sitting in a shadow cast by a pillar. She looked back at the fighters.
They were standing still, sizing each other up. She made up her mind
and slowly began crawling to the gun. She gritted her teeth as every
little nudge caused her broken limbs to protest, but this was something
more important than a couple of broken limbs.

Meanwhile, Jacob
and Stephen were at each others throats. They had each other by the
collar and were spinning around, trying desperately to attack each
other. Sam looked back and marveled at how two people in the same
family could fight each other to the death with such animosity. No,
there was no animosity. They were just two professionals doing their
jobs, and happened to be on opposite sides of a conflict. She crawled a
few more feet and looked back again. They were no longer holding on to
each other, but still attacking, retreating, defending, and circling.
Sam thought they really did resemble wolves; vicious and powerful,
noble and savage. Thats the word she wanted to use to describe this
fight savage.

Jacob summoned every ounce of his remaining
strength and flew at Stephen. His speed surprised even Stephen, who
couldnt keep up with his redoubled attacks. Stephen tried to counter,
but couldnt land a single blow, while almost every one of Jacobs
connected. The blows were coming so fast and strong that Stephen found
himself starting to lose his equilibrium and his vision was starting to
blur. Jacob grabbed Stephen by the shoulders and head butted Stephen as
hard as he could in the face, and while he was down, put all of his
strength into his right arm. He came up, angled his arm just slightly,
and smashed it into Stephens jaw. The blow actually knocked Stephen
into the air. The angle of the punch caused him to spin slightly, and
he landed flat on his face.

And that was all Jacob had. He
stumbled backwards a few steps. He was burning up from the fever, and
his strength was completely gone. Stephen wasnt moving. Maybe it was
over. Maybe hed won. Hed defeated his uncle and stopped his nuclear
threat. He could rest now, after this hellish week, he could finally
rest. And did he ever need it.

Stephens fingers twitched. Jacob froze.

No, no, no, no!

Stephens
arms flexed and he placed his hands flat on the concrete. With great
difficulty, be pushed himself off the concrete and on to his knees. He
placed one foot underneath him and slowly and painfully stood up.
Stephen was back on his feet, and mad as a hornet. He also noticed that
Jacob wasnt looking well.

I dont believe this, youre weak
with sickness and you came anyway, knowing it would put you at a great
disadvantage. Youre just like Samantha.

Jacobs breath was ragged and shallow. No, Im just like me. Thats how you guys made me, remember?

Its a shame the experiment will have to end in such failure.

Whys that? Im still here arent I?

Stephen
smiled. Not for long. He rushed at Jacob. Jacob was able to defend
the first few attacks, and then his strength was totally gone. He was
too slow to block a punch and it found a home in his stomach. The blow
knocked the wind out of him and he doubled over Stephens fist. Stephen
removed his fist and stood there. Jacob was struggling to stand back up
and face him. Stephen smirked at the gesture and drove his knee into
Jacobs stomach. Jacob spit up blood and went down to his knees, unable
to stand up.

I hope youre ready for the afterlife, nephew. Its going to be short trip.

Jacob smiled and said something inaudible.

What was that?

Why dont you just do the whole world a favor and drop dead?

Stephen
responded by kicking Jacob across the face, sprawling him out on the
concrete. Jacobs lungs clawed for air and his body felt like it was on
fire. There was plenty of fight left in his spirit, but his body had
none left. Eventually, he was able to speak again.

So, what are you waiting for, Unc? Didnt you say you wanted to do this since the beginning?

I thought you fought to protect others from people like me. What about your mission?

Ive done all I can, and it just wasnt enough. Ive failed and theres nothing more I can do.

And the citizens of this city?

Them? Theyre just assets. I dont really give a damn what happens to them now.

And your friends?

They were with me all the way on this. They knew the risks.

You are a good soldier, Jacob. The world needs more people like you.

Id prefer that not being the case.

Stephen
reached into his coat pocket. It took a moment, but he realized
something was missing. He searched his other pockets, his disbelief
rising. Where is it?

Looking for something? Jacob opened one of his fists, revealing the tiny remote detonator.

How did you…?

Heh, magicians never tell their secrets.

Stephen vaguely recalled Jacobs hand passing through his coat. Why you insolent… he started to reach for the detonator.

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!

Stephen
froze. He looked to his right and saw Sam sitting there, the gun in her
good hand and pointing right at him. Here eyes were narrowed in
concentration and there was real venom behind her voice.

Drop your weapon and put your hands in the air, Stephen. Its over.

Stephen sighed and relaxed his shoulders. It would seem Im defeated. But there is one thing I have yet to do, child.

I know, its surrender.

Stephen
laughed. Have you learned nothing about what my purpose is? I came
here to quit this world, either by my hands or his. He indicated
Jacob. Since he is unable to fulfill that role, you must do it
instead.

Sam almost dropped the gun. What?

Stephen
drew his gun, and instead of dropping it, pointed it at Jacob. Its
time for you to make a choice, Samantha. Either he dies or I do. There
is no other way out of this. He fired his gun and the bullet hit the
concrete a few feet away from Jacob.

Sam held the gun as steady
as she could. Suddenly the whole world was on her shoulders. She felt
like everyone was watching, depending on her actions alone.

Stephen
moved his gun and fired another shot closer to Jacobs head. If you
dont kill me, I will kill him. Only one of us may leave this tower.
Which one will it be?

Sam tried to aim at the gun. She could
try shooting it out of his hands. She tried to center the gun on his
hand, but between her exhaustion and injury, she couldnt hold the gun
still for such a precise shot. She returned the sights to the middle of
Stephens body. Still she couldnt pull the trigger.

Come on, Samantha. Im waiting. The whole world is waiting. He fired another shot even closer to Jacobs head.

Sam
still couldnt bring herself to fire. Never once had she ever been
placed in a situation where taking a life was necessary. Sure shed let
Jacob do plenty of killing, but he was trained, even born for it. No,
she still couldnt bear to take the life of another, no matter how
despicable he was.

Please, Stephen. Dont make me do this! Just surrender! Im sure WOOHP will treat you well!

I
dont care. Im sick of all of this. Im sick of the corruption, the
violence, the hatred, and the arrogance of man. But this is not about
me, Sam. Sam noticed that hed used her nickname. This is about you.
I said you have great potential. Are you able to realize it, or will
you always be second-rate? He fired another shot just a few inches
from Jacobs head. Its not difficult. Simply point the gun and make a
fist.

Stephens
voice became forceful. This is the decisive moment, Sam! He pointed
the gun right at Jacobs head. Its him or me! If this city is worth
saving, then prove to me that there is one thing in this whole
God-forsaken city worth saving and shoot!

Jacobs eyes pleaded
with Sam to take the shot. Sam realized then that his life was in her
hands. If she did nothing, he would die right in front of her on an
unfinished apartment building in the middle of LA. He might not even
get a proper funeral, since his existence was a classified secret. She
looked back at Stephen, his finger tightening around the trigger. She
realized something. Stephen wasnt just trying to take their lives. He
was trying to take their future. If he got away, neither she nor Alex
nor Clover nor anyone she cared about had a future. She saw layers
peeling off Stephen like an onion. He wasnt a father. He wasnt a
husband. He wasnt a general. He wasnt an uncle. He wasnt even a man.
He was just a terrorist bent on one thing death and destruction.

Sam tightened her grip, steadied her arm, and made a fist.

She
barely heard the gun go off. She didnt even feel it jump in her hand.
When her senses returned, Stephen was lying on the ground and Jacob was
trying to sit back up. He leaned over Stephen and they exchanged a few
words in Russian. Stephen closed his eyes and breathed his last.

Jacob
stood up with great difficulty. He staggered over the tool shed and
knelt beside the bomb. He opened a panel and tore a circuit board out.
The lights on the bomb went dark, and Sam breathed a sigh of relief.

Jacob
got back up and limped over to where Sam was sitting and wearily
plopped down around the corner of the pillar from her. He withdrew his
communicator and pressed the call button.

Den Mother, this is
Wolfhound. The prey is secure. Home in on my signal. He let the device
drop to the concrete and leaned back against the pillar. Sam felt
something cool on her cheek. She looked up and saw that it was starting
to rain again. She closed her eyes and let the tiny drops dot her face.
Sam could already feel the memories of the horrors shed witnessed over
the past week washing away with the rain. The cool rain felt good on
Jacobs feverish skin. They sat there for a few minutes, trying to
catch their breaths and simply reveling in the joy of a completed
mission.

Hey Sam, Jacob said after a few minutes.

Yeah?

Good job, kid. You really surpassed my expectations.

Thanks. It was the least I could do.

Hey Sam?

What?

Youre not a rookie anymore, not in my book.

Thanks. Sam looked down at his hand. Both their knuckles were bruised from the fight.

What did Stephen say?

He said, I guess this world is in good hands after all, and then how to disarm the bomb.

Oh.

You okay, Sam?

Lets
see. Ive got an open bullet wound, a broken arm, a broken leg,
probably some cracked ribs, and Ive been beaten to a pulp. How about
you?

Ive got a raging fever and I just got my butt handed to me by my own uncle.

Well then, I guess were just fine, then.

Yeah.
It started with a chuckle, and then they both started laughing good and
hard until a jolt in Sams arm and a hacking cough from Jacob cut the
laughter off. They opted to sit there and let the rain fall until Sams
Compowder chimed. She opened it up and saw Jerry and MacDonald on the
screen.

Jerry! Whats happening?

Sam, what happened?

Its over now, Jerr. Its all over.

You mean youve stopped Stephen?

I had a little help. She angled the Compowder so they could see Jacob around the corner. He gave a weak wave and a yo.

Sam noticed that MacDonald was wearing his uniform again. Any changes back at WOOHP?

Yes, why dont you tell her, Jeff?

The
President found out about the Secretary of Defenses little stunt and
got plenty mad about it. Hes sent him on a little vacation and
restored full control of the operation to me. I guess its a bit late
for that.

So the FBIs off our case, then?

Yes.

Jerry interrupted. Weve located Jacobs signal and are dispatching a WOOHP ship to pick you up. Where are you?

On the roof of the Solomon Carlita Estates.

I see. Alex has insisted that she ride out to meet you.

Good, I hope shes not too worried.

MacDonald
spoke up. Sam, I really have to hand it to you and your friends. The
odds were stacked against you and you all came through with flying
colors. Everyone over here is truly impressed.

Dont mention it.

Jacob, I look forward to our next assignment together.

Next one? We always work together, Jeff.

Not
for your next assignment were not. Ive decided its time for this old
man to take a sabbatical. I think Ill run back up to Maine and finish
that biography Ive been putting off.

A biography? Whos it on?

Ill let you know when Im finished.

Send me a copy, will ya?

If thats possible, I will.

See you next time, Jeff.

Take care, you two. MacDonald signed off.

The zip craft should be there any minute. Said Jerry. Are you two alright?

I think weve both seen better days, but well live. Said Jacob.

All right then, Ill see you back here. Congratulations on a job well done. Jerry signed off and Sam closed her Compowder.

The
rain continued to fall in a light spray. It fell just hard enough to
cover everything in a wet sheen, but not enough to soak the two tired
spies. She turned to Jacob. He was totally spent. It was all he could
do to stay awake.

So, whats gonna happen to you now?

Theyll probably give me some time to recover, then a few days off after that. Then its back to work as usual.

Work? You call this a job?

Yep. And despite the shape Im in, I still enjoy doing this.

Because you enjoy protecting others?

Yeah, thats about right.

Sam knew they were about to part ways, but didnt want it to happen.

Think well ever see each other again?

Probably not. Its a bad idea for people like me to form attachments, especially to other people.

Thats cruel, dont you think?

Yeah, but its necessary.

Why?

Because
when youre in the field, people are just assets a means to an end.
Getting attached to them can be disastrous to the mission.

Am I just an asset?

No, not at all.

A partner?

No, youre a friend, Sam. And someone Im glad Ive had the honor of meeting.

The WOOHP ship appeared overhead and came to a halt over the roof.

Is this where we say goodbye?

Yeah. Im sorry Sam, but this is how it has to be.

Doesnt mean I have to like it.

No, it sure doesnt.

See you, Jacob.

Goodbye Sam.

The
ship descended to the roof, its engines scattering the rain and blowing
water everywhere. The landing lights scanned the roof and found
Stephens body, and then found Sam and Jacob sitting there, half-dead
and glad to see the ship.